Reckless

Chapter 27

Krista’s face is a picture as we enter the hotel. Not because she’s impressed by the amazing lobby as Riggs ushers us through, having already sorted out our check-in. It’s because she watched Luther drive away with the RV.

I’ve arranged to have it parked up in a secure garage for the week. I’ve even paid a company to detail the whole thing, including the tanks, to make sure it’s at its best for when she makes the drive back home.

I’m still not sure how I feel about that, and am trying to figure out how to convince her to let me fly her home, and have the RV brought back for her. That is a thought for another day, because she looks forlorn as it disappears around the corner.

I get where she is coming from. For the last four weeks, that RV has been our home. The place where our feelings grew for one another and, in a way, stepping out of that is like stepping into a strange world, something that we’d forgotten existed while in that bubble.

It’s weird as fuck for me. It must be weirder for her. I’m used to this kind of thing. In fact, a hotel like this doesn’t impress me in the slightest.

Krista has spent most of her life travelling with her parents, yet they’ve always been content in their campervans, or shared hotel rooms. I got the sense her parents were thrifty despite being well off and they taught those values to their kids.

Things are going to be different now. But I want to make her as comfortable as possible. I need her to know I’m the same guy she’s been traveling with for the last few weeks. It won’t change just because I can afford these things. It’s for security more than anything else. It’s safer in places like this.

Right now, I’m more concerned with keeping Krista happy, to stop her going inside her head and worrying this is a bad idea. Maybe I went a bit too ostentatious. This suite is costing me four grand a night. Shit, I went overboard. Our two small bags of belongings looks ridiculous amongst all this opulence.

In the elevator, I hold her hand and lean in to ask if she is okay.

Krista nods and smiles, but says nothing. Once we get to the suite, I give the bellman a generous tip and take the bags, not wanting him to come in with us. Riggs says he and Luther are a few floors down, but to call if we need anything, then he slips away too.

We enter the suite and I walk behind Krista as she takes it all in with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open. As I suspected, her eyes go straight to the piano. She walks across the marble floor and plush rug, looking through the wall of windows to the city spread out beneath it, and lifts the lid.

The keys tinkle as she taps a few of them. I shove my hands in my pockets and watch. I’m rusty as shit when it comes to the piano, but she’s right. It’s not a skill you forget once you find the right key. Krista sets the lid back down and turns around a full three sixty, taking it all in, then she walks to the window.

The place is gorgeous, not gaudy or over the top, aside from the huge black and gold piano. The rest of the place is muted and stylish. The views of Chicago are stunning, even during the day. I imagine they’re going to be breathtaking at night.

The apprehension was dissipating a little, but the longer she is silent, the more the niggle of worry comes back.

The RV might seem basic to some, and a foreign concept to most of the people in my world, but it is top of the line and has everything we need. We weren’t out eating expensive food and going to parties. We’ve hiked trails, been at the mercy of the weather, travelled across the states, seeing some of the most amazing sights this country has to offer.

Now, we’re here, in this palace of a hotel suite.

Krista isn’t materialistic, she likes comfort, and she has her vices, but she’s never shown any inclination something like this will impress her.

Fucking hell, my nerves are shot. All I want to do is please her, take care of her, and give back some of the kindness and care she gave to me. A complete stranger, who walked into her life.

Stop being a dick. She isn’t going to run away screaming. And I’m not some nervous teenager waiting to see if the girl he likes is going to say she likes him back. I walk over and stand behind her by the window, placing a hand on her hip.

“What do you think?

“It’s beautiful,” she replies. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen the city like this.”

“You miss it?”

“Sometimes,” she leans back slightly so her shoulder is against my chest. “It’s been so long since I lived in Chicago. I could still find my way around with my eyes closed. Not much changes.”

“Are your parents still living here?” I never thought to ask that before. She’s talked about her childhood here and how she never left the city, choosing to go to college here. She only moved away after graduating.

“Yes, but they’re away at a conference for dad’s work, in New York,” she lets out a sigh.

“It would have been nice for you to see them.”

“It would, but I already knew they wouldn’t be around when I got here for the convention.”

I’m not sure if I’m making her sad talking about her parents. If she already knew they weren’t going to be here for her visit, I’m sure she’s not that upset.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Sure. Wine?”

I kiss the top of her head and walk over to the bar. Checking the fridges and cupboards, I find what I’m looking for. It’s fully stocked, and not just with wine.

“Red or white?”

“White, please,” she leans closer to the glass, pressing her hand against it.

I still have no clue what she is thinking about this huge change in scenery, and I hate it. Quickly, I open the wine and pour two glasses, then walk over.

“Here you go.”

She turns to take it, and I clink my glass against hers. We stand in silence for a moment, then she laughs.

“What?” I ask in confusion.

“We’re staying here all week.”

“You don’t like it?” I grimace.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“Fuck, you scared me. I thought you were going to say this is too over the top.”

“Oh, it is so over the top, Jude,” she laughs.

Her whole face changes and I can’t help but think she just needed to get her head around it. It is a blatant display of my wealth.

“I’m not gonna say take me to the Holiday Inn instead. Come on, let’s look around. There are so many rooms.”

She releases my hand and heads towards the bedroom. It’s like a switch got flipped and she’s back to her usual self.

“You’ve been messing with me,” I move after her, then lightly slap her ass. She yelps and looks at me over her shoulder, not hiding the grin.

“A little. I was just surprised.”

She turns again and heads into the bedroom, and straight to the bathroom, on the hunt for the bathtub and shower.

I follow her, leaning a shoulder against the door to the bathroom, watching in amusement. I guess I did right because she is smiling as she looks around. Who’d have thought amongst all this opulence and show of wealth, she was only interested in the damn bathroom.

Krista steps into the huge shower still in her shoes.

“I have no chill at all,” she peeks her head back around the frosted door. “This is insane, Jude.”

Then she’s gone again.

“Don’t get used to it.” I can’t wipe the smile off my face. “I’m just trying to get in your pants and figured this would impress you.”

“How shallow do you think I am?”

“Is it working?” I smirk.

She is moving about in the shower, but the glass is frosted and aqua blue, and I can barely make out her silhouette.

I’m about to push off from the doorway when Krista’s hand appears around the door, holding something. What is she doing?

Krista tosses her panties at me, and a sultry laugh follows as I catch them.

“Fuck me,” I mutter, my cock hardening at the thought of her hidden behind that glass.

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Setting my wine glass on the counter, I stalk to the shower, holding her panties in my hand. When I look inside, there is a pile of clothes on the floor. It’s a huge space with marble walls and six showerheads, including a waterfall one at the far end.

I don’t give a damn about the shower or how it is going to work. My eyes follow the line of her legs, the sweet spot between her thighs, her toned stomach and gorgeous tits, finally her face. She stands naked, watching me.

Her head tilts as she sips her wine nonchalantly. I toss her clothes out of the shower, kick off my shoes, then pull off my shirt and pants. She continues drinking the wine, but her chest is rising and falling as her breath quickens as I get naked too.

When I move towards her, she lowers the glass. Her lips are wet with wine and her eyes are full of lust. I take the glass and step up close, tipping it over her chest. She gasps as the cold liquid runs down over her breasts, dripping to the floor between us.

“Now I’m all dirty,” she breathes out.

“Better clean you up then.”

Her gasp echoes around the shower when I dip my head and lick the wine, following its path until her nipple is in my mouth. I look up and speak with it still caught between my lips.

“Although I plan to get you even more dirty first.”

I get down on my knees and lick a trail of wine down her stomach, dipping into her belly button before flicking out against her clit.

Krista slams a hand against the wall to steady herself, and I laugh against her as I drag my tongue through her slit. She fumbles with the controls and the shower starts behind me. The cold splash of water has me yelping, and I jerk forward, grab her hips and press up against her as she laughs and messes with the dial again.

“Fuck, that was cold.”

After a few seconds, the water turns hot. I stand up and she pouts.

“For that, you won’t get my tongue.”

“Oh?” she lifts a brow. “Who is losing out, really?”

I’ve made it pretty clear how much I love her riding my face.

“Yeah, never thought that one through,” I grin.

She runs her hands through my hair and smiles. Then her hands go to my shoulders, and she pushes me back down. Krista knows exactly what she wants, and she isn’t shy about letting me know.

Fuck, I love this woman.

We get room service the first evening, and for breakfast the following day, which we spent watching movies and fucking in the bed, and the bathroom. Her fascination with the bathtub is a novel experience for me, but watching her tits bounce in my face, wet and soapy, is a new memory for when we’re apart.

On the second day, she does a lot of writing and planning for the convention while I read her book. I’m almost finished, which is no mean feat given I can’t even remember the last time I cracked the spine on a book before this.

Luther arranges for the balcony of one of smaller restaurants in the hotel to be closed off, so we don’t have to eat in the room again.

By the third day, I’m confident enough that we can leave the hotel, but I’ve got a surprise planned for later, so tell her to carry on writing while I get some work done myself. The concern is written all over her face when I tell her it’s band stuff, but I assure her it's nothing to worry about.

Fisher wants the whole band to meet up as a one off. Not enforcing us to come back to work, to discuss everything that has gone on over the last few weeks. He’s right. We do need to speak to Quicksilver about the investigation into what Cody was doing.

We may be taking a break from ‘work’ but what is going on is too huge to wait until we’re done with the planned break.

Solene sees it as an opportunity to lay down some rules with a new manager, agreeing Fisher is handling everything well enough to overlook some of the historic bullshit. She wants to make sure our health, and best interests are included in any plans going forward.

We have a quick zoom call with everyone involved and decide a face-to-face meeting needs to happen next week, with our agents and lawyers there. Knowing this is best for the band is the only reason I agree. Krista is going to be busy with her convention and won’t want me hanging around.

As everyone is saying their goodbyes, I glance up and see Krista in the doorway. She has one of those lopsided buns in her hair, is wearing one of my t-shirts and her legs are bare. I want to take a mental picture of her looking like this. Then remember I don’t need to. She’s going to be in my life for as long as she’ll let me, because I’m not going anywhere.

When I tell her we’re going out, there is only a moment of concern before she gets excited, and I’m glad I made the plans.

We don’t leave until later in the evening, and Riggs is waiting outside the room for us.

Luther has a car downstairs. I’d suggested I drive us, but Luther wouldn’t allow it. He was adamant, in fact, that we aren’t left alone, saying it is one thing wandering around in the middle of nowheresville where I wasn’t likely to be mobbed. Being in a huge, populated city, where we’re known to have an enormous fan base, is a completely different story.

Okay, so I let him have that one. Plus, Krista agreed with the security guards over me, reminding me of the incident in Rapid City. No one needed to be reminded of the one in Minneapolis.

Krista catches on to where we’re going quickly. I’m counting on the fact that as a Chicago native, this is something she saw a lot but didn’t partake of. You tend not to do the tourist thing in your own city. And even if she has, it won’t be anything like what I have planned.

We bypass the dock where all the eager tourists are queueing up for the tour boats. We head for a private boat a little further down the Chicago River. There is no one at the dock besides the staff and us. Krista glances at the boat waiting for us.

“Is that a yacht?” she asks, her eyes wide.

“Only a little one.” I take her hand.

“A little one,” she stares at the yacht.

It’s not that little. It has two upper decks and a lower one where the bedrooms are. There is a bar and seating area, and a table has been set up where we’re going to eat and enjoy the cruise. The captain is waiting to greet us, all decked out in his uniform.

I’ve never done anything like this before myself, so it’s new to me too, but I want to treat her.

“Fucking hell,” she mutters, and Riggs stifles a laugh.

Luther is busy looking all around as we’re ushered onto the boat, watching the dock behind us, his eyes moving in all directions. I’m used to it, thinking nothing more of it.

“I’ve only hired it for a three-hour cruise and dinner.”

“Jude, this is insane,” she says, gripping the handrail as we board the boat. “Are we doing the Chicago River cruise? I’ve never done it before.”

That makes my chest swell. “And out onto Lake Michigan. It’s a sunset cruise.”

“You’re going all out this week, huh?” she asks as we step onto the boat.

“It’s not something I normally do,” I tell her honestly. “After the last few weeks, I thought it might be nice to be spoilt. Have someone else look after us. And you know, like I said, don’t get used to it. You're a done deal-”

Krista pushes me. “Ass! But I’ll try not to.”

She rolls her eyes, but they’re shining with amusement and a touch of excitement.

I didn’t hire a full staff, just the chef and the captain, so I head to the bar myself and open the champagne that is waiting for us in a bucket of ice. Riggs and Luther board and head up to the higher deck with the captain after he has introduced himself, leaving us alone.

We take a seat on the couches at the back of the boat as it gets moving. Because we don’t have a guide with us, we haven’t got all the information you would get on a tourist cruise, but Krista knows this place well and keeps me informed about what we’re passing before we sail out onto Lake Michigan.

We pass by the tourist boats but sit on the opposite side so no one can see our faces. Krista snuggles into me as we finish the champagne.

“Cold?”

“No, I’m good.”

She is wearing one of my hoodies, which I already told her looks fucking amazing. I couldn’t care less if she wasn’t dressed up like she thought she needed to be for the night out.

Once we’re done with the Chicago River, the chef brings out our meal and Krista is even more impressed. Especially when she realizes its burger and fries with ice cream for dessert. I’m not much into fancy food on giant plates that leaves you hungry when you’re done. The burgers are gourmet and are fucking delicious.

I love watching Krista eat. I’m thinking I’ve got one of those kinks to keep your woman happy and content, and not just with my cock.

“What are you laughing at?” she breaks into my thoughts.

“Nothing.” I pick up my beer and drink some to hide my smile. I’m not sure she’d want to hear what I’m thinking.

“I still can’t believe you did all this,” she shakes her head.

“I wanted to take you out. This seemed like the best way to do it. No one to bother us.”

“You have to think about these things, don’t you? All the time. About what you can and can’t do?”

“It isn’t always that bad. It only hit fever pitch after the last album, that one song.”

“It’s a great song, Jude.”

I hum in response. One song, used on a social media story that went viral, then everyone wanted to use the song to boost their accounts, and from there, it went insane. Our record sales soared. The label took advantage by adding more dates to the tours. Then the whole thing of women using my image went nuts and from then on things got difficult.

Truth is, I’m not even sure I still like the song. It’s our most requested, the one we always play last at shows. We have a hell of a lot better songs than that one, but it’s what the fans and radio stations want.

I’m not bitter, I appreciate everything I have, but sometimes, I wish that song didn’t hit the way it did. I wrote it when my head was turning into a difficult place and it’s a reminder of that every time I hear it.

“I’m sure everything will die down and I’ll be able to go about my business without all the scrutiny I’ve been getting.”

Her eyes drift upwards, and I follow them to where Riggs and Luther are standing. Neither of them is looking at us. Riggs is saying something to Luther, who is looking at his phone. To anyone else, it would look like he is ignoring his partner, but Luther sees and hears everything.

“Are you having second thoughts?” I ask, focusing back on Krista, even though I’m nervous to hear the answer.

“Jude,” she reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I wouldn’t have let you in my RV that first morning if I thought I couldn’t handle being around you.”

“It won’t be easy.”

I keep digging a bigger hole for myself. Jesus, know when to shut the hell up, dickhead.

“Easy is boring,” she replies.

“Just promise me something.” Her brow lifts, her lips remain sealed. “You’re not gonna promise till you hear it, are you? Fine. All I want is for you to tell me if things get too much, we can work through whatever is bothering you, together.”

“I can do that,” she finishes her champagne. “You worry too much. I’m not a fragile little flower. Come on, the sun is setting.”

Krista gets up and walks to the back of the boat without letting me say anything or acknowledge her comments. Being vulnerable isn’t something I’m enjoying. Krista hasn’t given me any reason to believe she is going to freak out. I need to get over it and enjoy this.

We sit down and this time when I grab a blanket, she snuggles under it with me. We lay back and watch the sun set on Lake Michigan.

As gorgeous as this sunset is, it will never top standing beside Krista, watching the sunrise over the Badlands in South Dakota.